Former Yankees fan favorite reportedly on trade block and could solve bullpen issue

While everyone's mind is on Mason Miller, a different San Diego Padres reliever could be in the cards for the New York Yankees, and he's one that they know well. Jon Heyman reports that the Padres are actively discussing veteran left-hander Wandy Peralta in trades, and a return to the Bronx could make a lot of sense.

Miller is the buzzy name, and by no means is that buzz unwarranted, but the Padres' reported asking price is two top-100 prospects just to start the negotiations. There are also rumblings that they'd want controllable MLB starting pitching.

Per MLB Pipeline, the Yankees have four prospects in the top 100, so a deal would essentially look something like two of George Lombard Jr., Dax Kilby, Elmer Rodriguez, and Carlos Lagrange, plus Will Warren. That's a steep price to pay for any reliever, regardless of how good he is and how much team control he comes with.

David Bednar has been lights out in the ninth over the last two months, and dealing Warren could create a rotation issue down the road given this team's track record with injuries. Clearing out that much in terms of high-end prospects would also hamper Brian Cashman's ability to make other moves.

Peralta, however, scratches an itch that plagues New York, and his familiarity with the club adds to the comfort that he can succeed in this high-pressure environment.

A reunion with Wandy Peralta is exactly what the Yankees' bullpen needs

One of Brian Cashman's best trades might have been the 2021 deal that sent Mike Tauchman to San Francisco in exchange for Peralta that April. Peralta spent nearly three full seasons in New York, logging a 2.82 ERA over a combined 153 innings of work. During that time, he developed a reputation as a fearless escape artist.

The Yankees' bullpen needs two things. One is a lefty to reduce or replace Tim Hill, and the other is a guy who can succeed in high-leverage situations. Peralta does both, though it should also be noted that he's been slightly better against righties this season.

The 35-year-old endeared himself to Yankees fans during his first go-around, and given the struggles some supposedly dominant relievers have had adapting to the bright lights in the Bronx, going out and getting a guy who you know can get the job done is important.

Peralta would cost less than some of the other high-end relief options, especially those with closer experience. That would leave Cashman with more assets to go out and solve other needs that plague the team, such as catcher, a solution at either third base or shortstop, and possibly more firepower off the bench.

To that end, it seems like a no-brainer that the Yankees should do everything within reason to bring Peralta back home.

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